Chapter Text
“Whoa.” Hidaka blinked in the sunlight as he stared at the shining office building in front of him. It looked almost brand new, at least a good thirty stories high.
“We have to get signatures from everyone in there?” Enomoto wondered nervously, clutching tightly at the laptop in his hands. “We'll be here all night, won't we?”
“We only need signatures from the personnel on the main office floor,” Fushimi said from in front of them and they both jumped slightly. He'd been quiet the entire drive down beyond the occasional tongue click as he sorted through the paperwork and Hidaka thought that he had seemed particularly irritated by this assignment, even for Fushimi. “This had better not take all day, I've got enough overtime work to take care of as it is...” He headed for the door, muttering to himself, and Enomoto and Hidaka exchanged glances before following.
By the time they caught up to Fushimi he was already at the front desk.
“Scepter 4.” Fushimi held out his ID to the desk clerk, who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than wilting under Fushimi's glare. Hidaka could relate. “We're here in regards to the incident last week. You should have been informed we were coming.”
“Y-yes, we were told someone from the government would be by,” the clerk said hesitantly. “But there's an important shareholder meeting today and...”
“Tch.” Fushimi clicked his tongue and the clerk shifted nervously. “I don't care. If you've got a problem with it, take it up with my superior.”
The clerk wavered for a moment and then gave a halting apology as he reached for the phone. Fushimi leaned against the counter, clearly bored and impatient as though he'd rather be anywhere else but there. After several minutes of hushed conversation the clerk returned, face slightly paler than before.
“Floor 25,” the clerk murmured, handing Fushimi a key.
Fushimi didn't even reply and roughly snatched the key from the clerk's hand as he swept away towards the elevator. Hidaka and Enomoto followed after him.
As soon as they stepped out of an elevator an older man in a suit came hurrying forward to meet them.
“I'm sorry, there's an important meeting today--” The man started and Fushimi held up his Scepter 4 badge again.
“How many times do I have to explain this?” Fushimi grumbled. “We informed you days ago. I'm not coming back here again, so just get out of our way and let us get this stupid assignment over with.”
“Yes, yes, we were told you would be coming by,” the man hedged. “But you have to understand, the CEO is in today and she is very busy, so--”
“Of course she is.” There was something icy and bitter in Fushimi's voice, something beyond just the usual annoyance, and Hidaka suddenly felt as though there was something he was missing in the whole conversation. The man in the suit seemed to have the same feeling and kept glancing nervously between the three of them. Hidaka tried to give him an encouraging smile from behind Fushimi's back. “We'll only be a few hours, as long as you comply and don't make things difficult.”
“I do understand, of course, I'm aware that you are a government agency and there's a timetable but there are circumstances and after the incident last week--”
“If you understand, let us through,” Fushimi said, crossing his arms.
“It's just that the CEO – ah, there she is, please, if you'll wait just a minute...” The man turned to face the figure walking towards them.
“Tanaka-san, what is --” The voice cut off with a sudden gasp of surprise.
“Madam CEO, these are the government officials who have come in response to last week's incident...ma'am?”
The woman had stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing them. She looked to be about middle age, maybe a little younger, but certainly not old enough to match Hidaka's mental image of a CEO. She wore a black business suit and her long dark hair hung down past her shoulders. She was staring at them with wide eyes and her expression looked surprised and a little bit...haunted, almost.
Wait, she's not looking at us, Hidaka realized. She's looking at...Fushimi-san?
“Niki...” The word fell disbelievingly from the woman's lips.
Niki?
The sudden silence was broken by a bark of harsh laughter and Hidaka nearly jumped. Fushimi was staring back at the woman openly, almost brazenly, head cocked to one side. There was a slightly unhinged quality to his laugh that seemed oddly familiar and it took Hidaka a moment to place it – it was the same sort of laugh he'd heard from Fushimi the last time they'd had a run in with Homra's Yatagarasu.
“Did you think I was him?” Fushimi's voice was smooth and amused, and he was smiling mockingly at her. The color seemed to return to the woman's face and her eyes narrowed as if in sudden recognition.
“Saruhiko. I see.”
Fushimi didn't answer, the smile falling away from his face, eyes flat and almost dull as he looked back at her. Hidaka glanced over at Enomoto, who shrugged, plainly just as confused as he was.
“Ah...” Tanaka stared helplessly between the woman and Fushimi, obviously feeling the same.
“Give them what they need,” the woman said shortly, turning to leave without even a look back. “And don't bother me with trivial things again.”
“Hidaka, Enomoto! Let's go.” Fushimi began to stalk towards the center of the office.
“W-wait, Fushimi-san--!” Hidaka objected, just as the exact same words came out of Tanaka's mouth. Hidaka froze and he and Tanaka exchanged identical wide-eyed looks.
“E-eh?”
–
“She has to be his mother, right?” Hidaka wondered aloud as he sorted through a stack of papers. They'd been given an empty conference room to use as a command center while they obtained the necessary signatures from the employees. “I mean, she's kinda young to be his mom but she's probably too old to be his sister. So she must be his mom, don't you think?”
“I guess,” Enomoto said, looking up from his laptop. “Fushim-san isn't really the type to talk about his family.”
“She didn't look happy to see him,” Hidaka said quietly, staring down at the desk. “That's—that's weird, right? And it was like she didn't even know he was with Scepter 4.”
“Maybe they had a falling out of some kind?” Enomoto suggested. “When I lent Fushimi-san my toolbox that one time, he said something about 'when he was poor.' But if his mother is a CEO that wouldn't make any sense. Just looking at this building, it seems like this is a very successful company.”
“So she abandoned him?” The very idea made Hidaka's heart drop. “But that's...”
“I really think we should probably just forget about it, Hidaka,” Enomoto said. “Fushimi-san didn't seem very happy to see her either. If you ask him about it you know it'll just end badly for you, right?”
“Right.” Hidaka sighed heavily and threw himself in a chair. “I don't like it. Even if they had a fight, he's still her kid, isn't he? My mom and I don't always get along but we're still family.”
“You never know about the complications in other people's lives, though,” Enomoto said.
“I wonder who she thought Fushimi-san was,” Hidaka continued. “Didn't she look almost like she'd seen a ghost?”
Before Enomoto could reply the door slammed open and Fushimi stalked in. Hidaka and Enomoto both stiffened, turning automatically towards their work like children about to be caught by their teacher talking during study time.
“F-Fushimi-san, are you finished with your work?” Hidaka managed to choke out, trying to sound natural. From the nervous look on Enomoto's face, he wasn't quite succeeding. Fushimi thankfully didn't seem to notice, clicking his tongue and he laid a stack of papers down on the table.
“Is that all of them?” Fushimi's tone was cold and clipped, all business.
“It looks like we've gotten signatures from almost everyone,” Enomoto offered. “Except...” He trailed off, exchanging a look with Hidaka.
“Except?” Fushimi prompted. Enomoto squirmed in his seat, obviously reluctant to reply.
“We...still don't have the CEO's signature.”
Fushimi clicked his tongue again in obvious annoyance and Enomoto flinched slightly.
“Then go get it,” Fushimi said shortly. “We've wasted enough time here already.”
“Ah, well...that Tanaka-san, he said that the CEO had an important meeting so she didn't have time to talk with us,” Hidaka broke in. He paused for only a moment, ignoring Enomoto's sudden panicked look and his own self preservation instincts quietly screaming at him to leave things at that. “I thought maybe Fushimi-san would have a better chance at getting her signature. I mean, since after all she is your--”
Fushimi's hand slamming onto the desk cut him off and Hidaka's mouth snapped shut, face going white. Fushimi raised his head just slightly, eyes sharp and dangerous and Hidaka decided maybe it was best that he hadn't gotten to complete that last sentence after all.
“Go. Get. It.” The words were heavy and final as though they had been engraved on a tombstone and Hidaka hurriedly backed away, bowing quickly.
“S-sorry! I'll...I'll go get that right away, please excuse me!” Hidaka grabbed the required paper and fled the room before he said anything else that could get him stabbed.
–
Hidaka paced nervously in the hugely spacious office. They had refused to let him into the shareholder meeting but after some discussion he'd managed to be allowed to wait for the CEO to finish inside her office.
You could fit half our dorms in here. Hidaka thought as he walked around the room. There was a huge picture window that took up one entire wall and looking out he thought he could nearly see Scepter 4's headquarters from here. In front of the window was an enormous desk made of sleek, expensive-looking wood and a soft business chair. There were binders and various folders of paper neatly arranged all around the desk in front of what looked to be a high-end computer.
Everything looked very expensive and businesslike, and Hidaka couldn't help but notice that there was nothing personal in the entire office. The only pictures were the two nondescript paintings that hung on the wall. There wasn't a single small personal photograph anywhere in the office, not the way Hidaka would expect.
I guess they really are estranged, huh? Hidaka leaned against the desk and sighed. Part of him had hoped that maybe he'd see something here, some kind of picture or memento clearly created by child's hands, something to suggest that the CEO knew she had a child and cared about him. But there was nothing, nothing at all.
But the nameplate on the front of the desk clearly read 'Fushimi Kisa,' and Hidaka was certain there was no way she could be anyone but Fushimi's mother.
“Who let you in here?” The woman's voice had the same emotionless, clipped tones Hidaka was familiar with and he stiffened on reflex, swallowing an apology.
“Ah...your employees, they....” Hidaka tried to gather himself. Fushimi Kisa stood in the doorway, glaring at him with eyes that Hidaka knew too well and suddenly the resemblance was impossible to miss. “The signature....”
“Right. You're from the government agency, correct?” Kisa crossed the floor towards him, pulling a fancy fountain pen from her front jacket pocket. “Very well, hand it here. I haven't got time for this, I have places to be...”
“Sorry...” Hidaka trailed off as she signed her name in a quick perfunctory hand before handing it back to him in a way that suggested he should be thankful she'd bothered to do so at all.
“If that was all you needed you can go now,” she said curtly, returning to her desk and pulling out her PDA as if preparing to make a call.
“U-um, well...” Hidaka's self-preservation instincts were screaming at him again but his curiosity won out. “Actually...”
“I said, you can go.” Kisa's tone made it clear she had no interest in his objections. “Unless there was more you needed?”
“N-no, this is all, but...” Hidaka took a step towards the door, then stopped and steeled himself, looking back. He couldn't just let this go without saying it or he'd definitely regret it more later. “Fushimi-san...our Fushimi-san, I mean...he is your son, right?”
“Who told you that?” Kisa's eyes narrowed in anger but Hidaka didn't look away. She crossed her arms and sighed, as if he had asked something incredibly bothersome. “Biologically, I suppose so. But I have never thought of that boy as my child.”
“What?” Hidaka felt like he'd just been slapped. “But—but he is your son, isn't he? How can you--”
“I don't believe it's any of your business what kind of relationship that child and I have,” Kisa said coldly. “We no longer keep in contact with each other. He was always his father's responsibility and made his own choice after that man's death to go off on his own. That being the case, I don't see why it should be expected of me to take any further interest in his activities.”
“But...isn't that too sad?” Hidaka felt his hands clench into fists. He knew that technically she was right, that this was none of his business at all, but he couldn't stop speaking. He could hear the words he himself had once spoken ringing in the back of his head like a mockery.
“No parent hates their own kid.”
“Fushimi-san...Fushimi-san is really amazing, you know,” Hidaka said quietly. “He's already risen up to a high position in Scepter 4 even though he's still only a teenager. He's super smart and can do all kinds of things by himself.” And there was the image still in his mind, of Fushimi sitting at his computer long after the rest of them had left, all alone, spending hours fixing things himself rather than ask for help. “And...and even though his attitude can be really scary I—I really respect him as my superior officer. So I don't get it. Shouldn't you be proud of him? If it's been a long time since you've seen him, shouldn't this be the perfect time to mend the fence between you? He's still your child, isn't he?”
“That is enough!” Kisa's voice cut through the air like a knife and Hidaka took a step back. “I believe I told you that this was none of your business. What that child does, or doesn't do...it's of no interest at all to me. You have your signature, now leave before I have you thrown out. I have more important things to take care of than waste time on pointless conversation.”
With that she looked back down at her PDA and began to dial a number, as if he wasn't even there anymore.
“I'm going,” Hidaka said dully, closing the door behind him. The paper with her signature was still clutched tightly in one hand and he stared down at the name for a long time.
“I don't get it.” Hidaka's hand tightened a little on the paper, crumpling it slightly. “I don't get it at all.”
–
“Finally we can go back to headquarters, what a waste of time. Like there isn't enough work to do already that I had to go out on such a useless assignment. Shouldn't this be something to send other people out on?” Fushimi's irritated grumbling led the way as they finally exited the building. The clerk had ducked out of the way as soon as they stepped out of the elevator, clearly not wanting to risk Fushimi's wrath a second time.
Hidaka hung back in the rear, oblivious to Fushimi's muttering and Enomoto's furtive, curious glances.
I just don't understand, Hidaka thought, frustrated. Even if they had a fight or something, they're still family. Shouldn't they be happy to see each other? Shouldn't they want to understand each other?
“Hidaka!” Fushimi's commanding voice made him jump and Hidaka looked up sharply. He had lagged some way behind the others and Fushimi was glaring at him in clear annoyance. “Keep up. I want to get back to headquarters as soon as possible.”
“R-right. Sorry...” Hidaka trailed off, glancing back towards the building they had just come from.
“Is there a problem?” Fushimi sounded impatient, tapping one foot.
“No, no, I....” Hidaka stopped, and then steeled himself, fists clenching. He took a step towards Fushimi and gave a quick bow. “Please come to see my family!”
“Eh?” Fushimi's tone of voice suggested he had just heard the most worthless thing in the world. Enomoto was staring at Hidaka as if he'd just challenged the Captain to a game of strip poker.
“I-I mean, we'll probably have some time off eventually for the holidays, right?” Hidaka said quickly. “Sometimes it's nice to go visit your family on days off and it's been a while since I've seen my mom so—so I thought maybe if Fushimi-san wanted to come along that would be fine.” Hidaka's head was still bowed but he could almost feel Fushimi's glare boring into his skull. “My parents are busy a lot but they're really good people and my mom's cooking is the best. And my little brother too, he's still in high school but he's really mature for his age a lot of times. I talk with my parents on the phone sometimes and they always tell me to come home when I get a chance....and—and so, if you don't have anywhere to go, I'm sure my family would be happy if you came along with me.”
There was a long silence and Hidaka screwed his eyes shut, cursing his own stupidity. What kind of an invitation was that? You know Fushimi-san hates that kind of thing. But... Hidaka bit his lip. But it's just too sad, that's all. Even if it's none of my business, there has to be something I can do, right?
“Hmmph. Don't say stupid things.” The words were cold but there was no malice in Fushimi's tone and Hidaka looked up in surprise. Fushimi's eyes were turned away from him and his stance suddenly seemed slightly awkward, almost embarrassed, and there was maybe a small hint of red in his face.
“Fushimi-san?” Hidaka said and Fushimi abruptly turned as if to walk away.
“Do whatever you want.” There was something almost lost in Fushimi's voice, as if he wasn't quite sure how to respond properly. Fushimi paused for a moment, head lowered slightly. “It wasn't like I was expecting anything from her to begin with. So it's fine.”
He began to walk away then, not bothering to look back and see if he was being followed. Enomoto glanced curiously between Fushimi and Hidaka and then hurried after Fushimi.
“Fushimi-san...” Hidaka managed a small smile. “R-right. I guess we should get back, huh?”
He straightened and started to follow after his companions. As he did he couldn't help but glance back towards the building, looking up towards the spot where he knew there was a giant picture window that looked out over the entire city.
He liked to think that maybe there was a figure standing there at the window, watching them go, but the reflection from the sunlight was too bright and there was no way to be sure.